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DOJ: Let Goodling Sing
The Justice Department signed off today on allowing Monica Goodling, its former White House liaison, to testify in the on-going congressional investigation into whether eight U.S. attorneys were fired last year to silence public corruption investigations.
House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers, D-Mich., lost no time in urging Goodling to immediately accept the panel’s offer of immunity from future prosecutions in exchange for telling all.
“I believe obtaining her testimony will be a critical step in our efforts to get to the truth about the circumstances surrounding the US attorney firings and possible politicization in the department’s prosecutorial function,” Conyers said.
In response to questions from Cox Newspapers, John Dowd, attorney for Goodling said: “Ms. Goodling will, of course, obey the order of the Court as to any questions put to her by the members and counsel for the House.”
Conyers said the committee would move “expeditiously” to apply for a federal court order, the last step in process, “so that we can schedule a hearing promptly.”
Glenn A. Fine, the Justice Department’s inspector general, and H. Marshall Jarrett, counsel of the Office of Professional Responsibility, sent Conyers a letter today stating that their joint investigation is in its early stages.
“As in any investigation that potentially could involve evidence of criminal conduct, we would prefer that any potential witness not be granted immunity at this state of the investigation,” the letter states.
But Fine and Jarrett went on to say that they understood the committee’s interest in obtaining Goodling’s testimony.
“Therefore, after balancing the significant congressional and public interest against the impact of the committee’s actions on our on-going investigation, we will not raise an objection or seek a deferral pursuant to the provisions of (the law),” the letter states.
Fine and Jarrett made the decision not to object because Attorney General Alberto Gonzales and Deputy Attorney General Paul McNulty have recused themselves from the inquiry since they are subjects of the investigation.
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